Honda S2000 Cabriolet 1999 - Present

Honda's 50th birthday present to itself is a gift for all that get to drive it. powered by the 1.8 - 2.0 litre engine of the year 2000 - 2004 (five times) the S2000 punches well above it's pricetag and is a delight to drive, especially on the open road.

At the heart of the S2000 is a mighty powerhouse pushing out 237 bhp from it's 2.0L unit (BMW's M series have engines that produce 100 bhp per litre, but few others can boast that sort of performance). Modern Hondas are designed to be able to rev and rev, with more delights to be found at the top of the rev range than in Aladin's cave. The S2000 takes this ethos and not so much runs but more tries to fly with it. The 0 - 60 time is six seconds and the S2000 tops out at 150 mph.
The S2000 is a stunning drive on country lanes and A roads, but can be tiring on motorways. As with many of the modern generation of high reving Hondas there is oodles of power but too little torque. The high power output is delivered at high revs, and while there is a good level of power throughout the range but if you want to really fly you're going to need to keep the revs up, which can be a little tiring.

There isn't a great deal of room in the cabin for the tall or well built among the buying community. The roof comes down easily and quickly enough, although it feels a bit shabby compared to some of the more expensive rivals. The car is well put together and uses good quality materials throughout, the starter button is an added touch that makes you feel special every time you fire it up.

The original models were a little too lively on the street and had a tendency to spin in the wet. The steering is somewhat divorced from the road, which makes driving the S2000 akin to a video game. The drive is engaging and really draws you in, especially that engine noise. When the back steps out it does so in a controlled way, that feels predictable. As the owner of a S2000 you'll feel like a go cart driver each time you gout in the car.

On a practical level owning an S2000 is akin to owning a go cart. There is a tiny space behind the seats but not the luxury of a glove compartment. The equipment levels as standard are good with; alloy wheels, air conditioning, CD player, leather seats and electric windows as standard.
The boot space is reasonable in size but an odd shape so you may have to put your clothes in without a case.

The bottom line with the S2000 is that you can enjoy the performance and handling of a true sports car at the price of a family coupe. You'll find yourself a little embarrassed by your Porsche owning mates on the inside of the car but when you leave them at the lights you'll be the one having the last laugh.

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